Impulse switch mechanism



Sept. l5, 1959 .1.0. RoEsER IMPULSE SWITCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled oct. 1'?, 1957 14 '43 1NVENTOR. 55 f/2m jzjoef .50 BY /46 53 Sept.15, 1959 J. o. RoEsER IMPULSE SWITCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vFiledOct. 17, 1957 INVENTOR. zwasef 'iinited States Patent O 1MPULSE SWITCHMECHANISM John 0. Roeser, Park Ridge, lll., assignor to Illinois ToolWorks, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 17,1957, Serial No. 690,657 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-160) This invention isconcerned generally with the art of electrical switches and moreparticularly with a device for momentarily operating a switch. As iswell known, the circuitry of even the simplest automated equipment isquite complex. Generally, there are two or more relays required for eachoperation. It has been found that many of the relays in automationequipment could be eliminated if a means could be provided to `give asingle impulse to initiate the next operation. The present device iscapable of effecting such a single impulse.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide aswitch-operating mechanism wherein a switch is momentarily closed, andthen opened, to give a single impulse upon movement of an actuator inone direction, reverse movement of the actuator having no effect on theswitch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switchoperatingmechanism wherein depression of a plunger in a given direction firsteffects movement of a switch actuator in the same direction, and thenreleases the switch actuator, opposite movement of said plunger havingno effect on said switch actuator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide animpulse-type switchoperator which is rugged and long'- lived, which requires no criticaltolerances, and which is simple and economical to fabricate.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a switch incorporating the mechanism formingthe subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the switch operator astaken along the lines 3--3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a slightlydifferent position of operation;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing th parts in asubsequent position of operation;

Fig. 6 is another similar view showing the parts in yet a later positionof operation;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the operator as taken along theline 7-7 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view, but taken along the line 8-8in Fig. 6.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and iirst toFigs. l and 2, there will be seen a switch casing 10 incorporating aswitch 12 of known construction and having an actuator 14. As will beunderstood, whenever the actuator 14 is depressed, the switch is closed.The switch remains closed until the actuator 14 is released, and thespring-loaded actuator 14 then rises and the switch opens. A conduit 16is connected to the casing or housing 10 for connecting wires to theswitch, and an operator 18 is provided on top of the casing or housing.

The construction of the operator forms the novel subject matter of thisinvention, and the structure thereof may be seen with reference to Fig.3. 'Ilhe switch operator 18 includes a bushing 20 having a peripheralflange 22 at its lower end fitting within an aperture 24 in the top ofthe switch housing or case 10. A nut 26 is threaded on the bushing abovethe flange 22 to clamp the bushing in place. The bushing is providedwith an axial bore having a relatively large diameter, as at 28,extending throughout most of the length of the bushing. The upperportion of the bushing has a smaller bore, as indicated at 30, and thisjoins the larger bore diameter at an oblique shoulder 32.

A spring-reaction base 34 is mounted within the bottom end of thebushing 20, and includes a hollow, upstanding cylindrical portion 36having a wall 38 at the upper end thereof. The wall is provided with acentral aperture 40. The cylindrical portion 36 has a shoulder at itslower end 42, joining an enlarged portion received within the largerbore 28 of the bushing. The enlarged portion 44 is provided with aradially extending circumferential flange 46 underlying the ange 22 ofthe bushing, and the anges preferably are welded together.

A flexible diaphragm 48 extends across the bottom of the reaction base34, closing the cylindrical bore 50 therein. A washer 52 of rather largeinternal diameter underlies and reinforces the diaphragm 48. As will beapparent, the diaphragm 48 rests against the top end of the actuator 14.

An external cap 54 of cylindrical coniiguration is mounted for a snugsliding t in the smaller diameter bore 30 of the bushing 20. The cap isclosed at the upper end, as at 56, and an O-ring 58 is provided in acircumferential groove 60 adjacent the top of the cap to limit downwardmovement of the cap in the bushing. The cap is provided with an enlargedsection or skirt 62 at itsv lower end, joined to the remainder of thecap by an oblique shoulder 64 complementary to the shoulder 32. Theskirt 62 fits rather loosely within the large diameter bore 28. The cap54 is hollow, having a central bore 66 extending substantiallythroughout its length, and having the skirt 56 provided with -anenlarged counterbore 68 joined to the main bore by an oblique shoulder70.

The cap 54 is normally held in the raised position shown in Fig. 3 by ahelical spring 72 compressed below the bottom end of the skirt 62 at 74,and the shoulder 42 on the spring-reaction base 34. The helical springencircles the upstanding cylindrical part 36 of the springreaction base,as will be apparent.

A thimble 76 is received for reciprocation within the lbore 66 of thecap 514, and comprises generally a tubular body 78 having a top wall 80.The top wall is provided with a central bore 82 to permit free passageof air thereby to prevent compression of air in the bore 66 above thethimble during operation of the operator, as hereinafter to be setforth. The tubular body 78 is provided at the lower end thereof with aradially inwardly directed ange 84 having an internal oblique shoulder86. The tubular body 78 of the thimble 76 is provided with a pluralityof radial apertures 88 which are in a plane perpendicular to the axis ofthe thimble. Balls 90 are received in these apertures.

A hollow cup 92 is mounted for reciprocation within the lthimble 76, andis provided with an integral, depending push rod 94 joined thereto by anoblique shoulder 96 complementary to the shoulder 86 of the thimble 76.The lower end of the push rod 94 extends to a position spaced slightlyabove the diaphragm 48. An O-ring 98 is received in a circumferentialgroove 100 adjacent the lower end of the push rod to limit upwardmovement thereof by impingemcnt against the wall 38 of thespringreaction base in the vicinity of the aperture 40 through which thepush rod extends.

A helical spring 102 encircles the push rod 94, and is compressedbetween the wall 38 of the spring-reaction The springs 72, 102,V and104,normally hold .theparts inthevposition4 shown in Fig. 3. In thisposition, the cup 92 holds .theballs 90extending outwardly from theirapertures 88, and beneath the oblique shoulder 70, of the capk54. Thus,if thecap 54 is pushed down, asin Fig. 4, the` shoulder 70i bears. onthe ballsl 90..and forces the balls, and hencethe thimble 76, down. Thespring 1 04 causes the push rod 94 to move down along withthe thimble 76.- The bottom of the push rod then engages the diaphragm-48 and deectsitv downwardly. Such downwarddeection of the diaphragm depresses theswitch actuator 14 and, causesfthe switch to be, .closed. Upon continueddownward movement of the cap 54, the'balls 90 slide along the outersurface of the cup 92 (the cup and pushl rod being limited againstfurther downward movement by the diaphragm 48) until the balls `reachthe shoulder 96. At this time, the balls are no longer held radiallyoutwardly, and the oblique shoulder 70l of the cap cams the, balls inbeneath the shoulder 96. and against the push rod 94.

Thus, thethimble. 76`v is no Vlonger held down by .engagement oftheshoulder 70 against the balls 90, and the spring 102 raises the thimble76. Sincey the balls 90v now underlie Vthe shoulder 96 of the cup andpushl rod, the cup and push rod are raised with the thimble 76 untilthey reach an upward limited positionl determined by impingement of theO-ring 98 against the underside ofthe top wall 38 of the spring-reactionbase.

Further-downward movement of the cap 54 has n0 effect on the other partssince the balls 90 simply slide along the inside of the bore 66 of thecap. Final downward movement of the cap is limited by the O-ring 58-which impinges against the top of the bushing 20. When the cap isreleased, the spring 72 raises the cap to the limited position shown inFig. 3. Since the balls now have room to move out beneath the shoulder70, the spring 104 forces the cup and push rod down, the obliqueshoulders 96 camming the balls 90 out to their initial position, asshown in Fig. 3. As will be apparent, the upward return of the partshasno eiect onthe switch actuator 14 once the push rod 4has moved upwardly,as between Figs. and 6.

It is to be understood lthat the speciticexample of thev invention asherein shown and described is for illustrative, purposes only. Variouschanges in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art,and are to beunderstood as forming a part of the invention insofarasthey fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims,

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. In combination with a switch having a housingand an -actuating membermovable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing saidswitch comprising guide means fixed relative to said-housing, a plungerreciprocable along` said guide means, spring means acting on saidplunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, amemberrreciprocable along said guide means'and operatively engageablewith said switch-actuating member, spring means acting on saidreciprocable member and resiliently urging saidrreciprocable member inthe same given direction, one way coupling means I, coupling saidreciprocable` member to said plunger upon` movement of said plungeropposite to saidgiven direction, said coupling means being ineffectiveupon movement of said plunger in saidgiven direction, means arrestingsaid reciprocable-memberafter movernentioflv said actuating member alimited distance thereby, and

, 4 y means, .effective 11110.11. .SllQhrreSting of, saidl reciprocablemember to render said coupling means ineffective, whereby saidreciprocable member is returned in said given direction by the springmeans acting thereon independently of return of said plunger, saidplunger subsequently being returned in said given direction by thespring means acting thereon. v i

2. In combinationwith asn/ itch having a housing and an actuating membermovable a limited distance, mechanism for mentaliteit-ily closing.. SaidSwitch. Comprising guide .meansf flaredv relative. tosaid .-housing,ahollow plunger.;resrroablejn. Saideuidemeane Spring means acting" onsaid plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a givendirection,arnemberreciprocably mounted within said plunger andreciprocable relative thereto, said reciprocable member beingoperatively engageable with said switch-actuating member, spring meansacting on Vsaid reciprocable member and resiliently urging saidreciprocable member in the. sameV givenl direction, one-way coupling.means .coupling said reciprocable member to said plungeruponmovementk ofsaid plunger opposite to said given direction, saidcoupling means beingineffective upon movement of-said plunger in said given direction, meansarresting said reciprocable member after movement ofsaid actuatingmember a limited distance thereby, and-means effectiveupon sucharresting of said reciprocable,` member ton render said coupling meansineiective, whereby said reciprocable member is returned in said-givendirection by the spring means acting thereon, said v'plungerYsubsequently being returned in said given directionrby the spring meansacting thereon.

3; In combination with' a switch having a housing and an actuatingmember movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closingsaid switch comprising guide means iixed relative to said housing, aplunger reciprocable along said guide means, spring means acting Vonsaid plunger and resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, amember reciprocable along said guide means and operativelyengageablewith said sWitch-actuating member,`spring means acting 0n saidreciprocable memberand resiliently urging .said reciprocable member inthe same given direction, actuating spring means urging saidreciprocable memberin theopposite direction, one- Way couplingmeanscoupling said actuating spring Vmeans to said plunger upon movement ofsaid plunger opposite to said given direction, said coupling means beingineffective up-on, movementofsaid plunger in Said given direction,meanst arresting said reciprocable member after movement of saidactuating membera limited distance thereby, said lactuating spring meansthereupon deforming, and means etfective. upon such arresting of saidreciprocablezmember to render said coupling means inelective wherebysaid reciprocal)le member is returned in said given direction by thespring means acting thereon independently of returnof saidplunger, saidyplunger subsesiueutlyfbeingreturned, inrsaid giver directiva by thespring means acting thereon.

4 lncumbinatioa. `with @switch having@ Ahousing and an actuatingmembermovablea limited`- distance, mechallrrlV fory momentarily closingsaid switch comprising guide means xed relative to said housing, ahollow plunger reciprocable. in said guide means, spring -means actingon. said -plungerand .resilientlyurging said plunger in a givendirection, a member reciprocably mounted within said plunger andreciprocable relative thereto and operatively engageablerwithvsaidswitch-actuating member, spring means actingpn said reciprocableA memberand resiliently urgilsaisi.reiprgqablev member. in theSamegiveadirectipm .Spring Within Said plunger. biasingaid reciprocablemember in the oppositedirection relatir. tosaid plunger. ous-wavCrawling` means ,coupling Said .spring )linens` in. @Said .plunger to:Said plunger upon nipvement ofA said plungeroppositeto said givendirection, said coupling means being ineffective upon movement of saidplunger in said given direction, means arresting said reciprocablemember after movement of said actuating member a limited distancethereby, said reciprocable member thereby moving relative to saidplunger in said given direction against the spring means in saidplunger, and means effective upon such arresting of said reciprocablemember and such relative movement of said reciprocable member to rendersaid coupling means ineffective, whereby said reciprocable member isreturned in said given direction by the spring means acting thereon,said plunger subsequently being returned in said given direction by thespring means acting thereon.

5 In combination =with a switch having a housing and an actuating membermovable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing saidswitch comprising guide means fixed relative to said housing, a plungerreciprocable along said guide means, spring means acting on said plungerand resiliently urging said plunger in a given direction, an operatingmember reciprocable along said means and operatively engageable withsaid switchactuating member, an intermediate member reciprocable alongsaid guide means, spring means acting on said intermediate member andresiliently urging said intermediate member in said given direction,spring means acting between said operating member and said intermediatemember for urging said intermediate member in said given direction,shiftable coupling means associated with said intermediate member andeffective upon movement of said plunger in the opposite directionrelative to the spring biasing thereof to couple said plunger to saidintermediate member whereby to shift said intermediate member with saidplunger, and resiliently to shift said operating member, said operatingmember being arrested upon movement thereby of said actuating memberthrough said limited distance, means effective upon such arresting ofsaid operating member to release said coupling means from said plunger,and to couple said intermediate member to said operating member wherebythe spring means operating on the intermediate member returns saidintermediate member in said given direction and said intermediate memberreturns said operating member in said given direction, continuedmovement of said plunger in said opposite direction being ineifective tothereafter produce movement of said other members, and said plungersubsequently being returned in said given direction by the spring meansacting thereon.

6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plunger is hollow,the intermediate member is hollow and is received within the plunger,the operating member is received within the intermediate member, and thespring means acting between the intermediate member and the operatingmember is received within the intermediate member.

7. In combination with a switch having a housing and an actuating membermovable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closing saidswitch comprising a tubular guide fixed relative to said housing, atubular plunger reciprocable in said guide, a spring-reaction base fixedrelative to said tubular guide, spring means received in said tubularguide and lacting between said reaction base and said plunger to urgesaid plunger outwardly of said guide, an intermediate tubular memberreciprocable within said tubular plunger, spring means acting betweensaid reaction base and said intermediate member and urging saidintermediate member in the same direction as said plunger, an operatingmember received within said .tubular intermediate member `andoperatively engageable with said actuating member, spring means withinsaid tubular intermediate member and acting between said intermediatemember and said actuating mem-- ber, shiftable coupling means associatedwith said intermediate member, and means effecting shifting of saidcoupling means whereby upon movement of said plunger in the directionopposite to that which it is urged by the spring means associatedtherewith the coupling means couples the intermediate member to theplunger for movement therewith, said operating member thereby beingresiliently moved in the same direction and thereby moving saidactuating member through said limited distance, said operating memberthereafter being arrested, said shiftable coupling means thereuponshifting from said plunger to said operating member whereby to free saidplunger from said intermediate member and to couple said intermediatemember to said operating member, the spring means acting on saidintermediate member thereby returning said intermediate member in saidgiven direction and said operating member being returned therewith,further movement of said plunger in said opposite direction having noeffect on said intermediate and operating members, said plungerthereafter being returned in said given direction by the spring meansacting thereon.

8. Mechanism as set forth -in claim 7 wherein the shiftable couplingmeans comprises a plurality of balls received in radial apertures insaid intermediate tubular member and radially shif-table between saidplunger and said operating member.

9. In combination with a switch having a housing and an `actuatingmember movable a limited distance, mechanism for momentarily closingsaid switch, comprising a tubular guide fixed to said housing adjacentsaid actuating member and extending outwardly from said housing, atubular plunger received within said guide and reciprocable therein,said plunger and Isaid guide having a complementary means thereonlimiting outward movement of said plunger, a spring-reaction base withinsaid tubular guide adjacent the end proximate to said housing, springmeans acting between said reaction base and said plunger and urging saidplunger outwardly of said guide, a thimble reciprocably mounted withinsaid plunger, said thimble having a plurality of radial apertures, aplurality of balls respectively received within said apertures,downwardly directed oblique shoulder means on said plunger adap-ted toexert a downward force on said balls, spring means acting between saidreaction base and said thimble and urging said thimble outwardly intosaid plunger, said thimble having radially inwardly directed stop meansat the end oriented toward said housing, an operating member operativelyengageable with said actuating member and reciprocably received withinsaid thimble, said operating member having means providing downwardlyand outwardly directed oblique shoulder means and a cylindrical wallreceived within said thimble and disposed outwardly away from saidhousing relative to said shoulder means, and `spring means receivedwithin said thimble and acting between said thimble and said operatingmember, depression of said plunger causing the oblique shoulder meansthereof to -bear against said balls whereby to shift said thimble towardsaid housing, said thimble acting through the spring means housedtherein resiliently to urge said operating member operatively againstsaid actuating member to effect movement of said actuating member, saidoperating member being arrested following limited movement of saidactuating member and said thimble thereafter moving relative to `saidoperating member until said balls reach the oblique shoulder means ofsaid operating member, whereby said balls are cammed inwardly by theoblique shoulder means of said plunger and release said thimble fromsaid plunger, simultaneously coupling said thimble to said operatingmember, said thimble and said operating member thereby being urgedoutwardly of said housing by the spring means acting between saidthimble and said reaction base, further depression of said plungerhaving no eect on said thimble and said operating member, said operatingmember Subsequently being returned to its initial limited position bythe spring means acting between said operating member and said reactionbase.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,616,009 Roeser Oct. 28, 1952

